Utah National Parks are something you don’t want to miss.  Truly.  I’m not sure why it took 31 years of adventures for Doug and I to make the trek to this part of Utah.  Maybe it was that he and our son, Matthew, just returned from a canyoneering trip, and it was April…the right weather to see this part of our beloved America.  As soon as Doug returned from that trip with Matthew we said it was time to see the National Parks of Utah.  We’d always thought about it.  It was on our list.  We loved Bryce and Zion when Matthew was just a small kiddo.  It was time.

A Utah National Parks adventure should be on your Bucket List, if for only the geological phenomenon that makes it so unique.  They are somewhat like the Grand Canyon.  They look like a much grander version of the Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs).  And yet, they are unique.  There are © 2009-2011 DougNiedermillerPhotography.com, the vastness of Canyonlands and the oddness of the rock formations of Capital Reef.  And, while Natural Bridges is a National Monument and not a National Park, I encourage you to stop and see them as they are so rare and interesting that they should not be missed.  They are all close enough in proximity to each other that the drive is not bad at all.

Arches – Our favorite, because the way the arches are formed it is something you cannot see anywhere else.

Canyonlands – So huge it’s hard to imagine that people lived and mined for uranium here.

Capital Reef – Not so big as the others, but the unique rock hole formations makes it well worth the drive though.

Natural Bridges – Bigger than I thought, worn by water, and Indian habitat ruins!

All of the Utah National Parks have campgrounds.  During peak seasons it is advisable to book your reservations well in advance (up t 180 days) of your stay.  BLM land is available if you don’t need “facilities”.  Each of the Parks has very nice and clean ranger stations.  The rangers and volunteers, as we’ve seen throughout the Park system, are friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.

We are big fans of the National Parks and now Utah is added to the list of great adventures we’ve had, right here in America!!!